A royal entrance. For the debut of its Waldorf Astoria luxury brand in London next year, the Hilton group could not have wished for a better location. Opposite Buckingham Palace, within this famous Admiralty Arch spanning the Mall, commissioned by Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria. What was the official residence of leading figures in the British admiralty, Churchill and Lord Mountbatten among them, is changing course as it sails towards the hotel business, but the exclusivity of the location remains unchanged. The Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch will thus offer 100 rooms and suites, restaurants by multi-starred chefs such as Daniel Boulud and Clare Smyth - an honourable MBE and member of the Order of the British Empire - in addition to a collection of event spaces, including a ballroom that can accommodate up to 300 people.
While the brand's original hotel, the Waldorf Astoria New York, is back in business this year, this new hotel should establish itself as its prestige counterpart on the Old Continent. For all that, it won't be the American group's only major opening planned for next year on this side of the world. Another key project, the former Athens Hilton, one of the first to appear in Europe, in 1963, is undergoing a complete metamorphosis to become the Conrad Athens The Ilisian at the beginning of 2026.
A true urban resort, this luxury complex will feature the largest outdoor swimming pool in the Greek capital, nine bars and restaurants, a private club with coworking space, meeting and event spaces, while offering business travellers 307 rooms, suites and residences, including a signature penthouse with private pool. Also in Greece, a Conrad resort is also expected in Corfu in the second quarter, while travellers will find another luxury Conrad hotel in Riyadh in 2026, just opposite the diplomatic quarter and close to the business centres.
Emblematic renewals and key openings
Among the other new establishments in a convenient location for business travellers, a 485-room and suite Hilton hotel will open early this year just a stone's throw from the Istanbul airport terminal, offering a range of dining options, a spa and an indoor swimming pool, as well as an executive lounge. At the same time, its historic hotel in the Turkish metropolis, opened in 1955, is getting a facelift and will unveil its new look in spring 2026.
In Milan, a Canopy by Hilton will open its doors in the second quarter of 2026, a stone's throw from the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, on the lively Via Torino. In addition to its contemporary design, guests will enjoy views of the entire city from its rooftop bar, as well as wellness facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Hilton's list of openings also includes a long-stay hotel in Dublin, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre, with 290 suites, and a mid-range Hampton by Hilton hotel in Lisbon's Baixa district, with 157 rooms and a rooftop pool.
For its part, the Curio Collection, which brings together upmarket hotels with character, will be adding to its European portfolio with The Derby London City, due to open in February in the financial district, within a former office building converted into a 234-room contemporary hotel. Other conversions to the brand include a prestigious cinema dating back to 1914 in San Sebastian, Spain, and a castle dating back to the 14th century in the Netherlands, near Eindhoven, the Kasteel Gemert, suitable for both leisure stays and business events.
New business hotels across the Atlantic
But to discover the hotels best suited to major business events, it's in the United States that you'll have to go next year, with two new developments for Signia by Hilton. In the second quarter, this MICE brand will preside over the destiny of the Diplomat Beach Resort in Florida, before a major opening in Indianapolis in autumn 2026, with a hotel directly connected to the convention centre and which will offer a MICE space of almost 10,000 m² including one of the largest ballrooms in the United States.
The American group's expansion on its native soil will also include Nashvile, with a second Tempo brand hotel and the first Motto by Hilton in the heart of "Music City", a contemporary brand also expected in Guadalajara, Mexico. Later this year, business travellers will also find new Homewood Suites brand extended-stay hotels near Phoenix and Oakland airports, while the group will continue to roll out its new mid-range extended-stay concept, LivSmart Studios by Hilton, expected in Pensacola and Huntsville among other locations. At the same time, it will continue to expand another recent brand, Spark by Hilton, positioned in the premium economy segment and already boasting 200 properties since its launch in 2023.
Luxury and lifestyle on the agenda in Asia
Conversely, the Group's growth in the Asia-Pacific region has been marked by an increased focus on luxury and lifestyle. In this context, the NoMad brand, founded around the eponymous London hotel and the purchase of a majority stake by Hilton in the Sydell Group, its owner, will see its first development in Singapore in 2026. Located in the heart of Orchard Road, the future NoMad Singapore will offer 173 rooms in a sophisticated setting combining design, world-class dining and immersive cultural programming.
For its part, the Waldorf Astoria brand, in addition to its royal London project, will also be setting up shop in Kuala Lumpur in the fourth quarter of 2026, in the golden triangle of the Malaysian capital. The hotel is going for big things, with 272 suites, the smallest measuring just 80 sq. m., and over 4,000 sq. m. of MICE space, including the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom, measuring almost 1,600 sq. m. Shortly before this opening, Kuala Lumpur will also see the Malaysian debut of the Conrad brand, also housed in the prestigious Golden Triangle District, which will offer 481 rooms as well as two floors dedicated to meetings and events. Finally, Canopy by Hilton will also be making its debut, not just in Thailand, but in Southeast Asia, with the Canopy by Hilton Bangkok Sukhumvit, scheduled for the third quarter of 2026 and featuring 174 rooms and flexible event spaces.
